Air cooling and conditioning apparatus



May 30, 1933. a K N 1,912,208-

AIR COOLING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1932 Patented May 30, 1933 PATENT OFFICE SHICHIGORO KUNO, OF OGDEN, UTAH AIR COOLING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Application filed June 17,

This invention relates to improvements in air conditioners and coolers for use in cooling the interior of rooms and buildings during hot weather.

In many sections of this country, during the summer months and in many other countries, the temperature rises to such an extent that people become very uncomfortable. The heat is especially objectionable for sick people, children and old people who often sicken under its enervating effect.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple and rather inexpensive device for use in cooling the air of a room so as to reduce its temperature so as to bring comfort to the occupants. Another object of this invention is to produce an air cooling and conditioning device that is portable and which can be easily transferred from one room to another and which will therefore be especially well adapted for use in hospitals and homes.

In private homes and in hospitals and/or other institutions where children are cared for, the comfort and health of the children are often adversely affected by extreme high temperatures and the device that forms the subject of this invention is very well suited for use in such places.

This invention, briefly described, consists of an elongated housing, open at both ends and provided near one end with an electric fan that will propel a strong current of air from one end to the other. At the end pposite from the fan is a shelf which is made of woven wire or other foraminated material; this shelf is for supporting apiece of ice. Directly underneath the ice is a pan of sufiicient size to receive and hold all of the water from the ice. When the fan is operating a strong current of air passes over and about the ice and becomes cooled whereby the temperature of the room is lowered. When the ice melts, the water drops into the pan.

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing 1932. Serial No. 617,698.

in which the preferred form of the invention is shown, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the improved air cooler;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 2, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 3, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, and shows a modified form; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, Figs, 1 and 4.

In the drawing reference numeral 6 represents the surface on which the device is supported and may be the floor of the room 05 or the surface of the table. The device itself consists of a housing having a flat bottom 7 over which extends a sheet metal member of U-shape cross section, the vertical sides of this member have been indicated by reference numerals 8 andthe upper ends of these sides are connected by a curved portion 9. In the drawing one end has been shown as larger than the other, but this is not essential, as the two ends may be of the same size if desired. Secured in the smaller end is a supporting bracket. This bracket consists of two flat steel bars 10 that are secured at their upper ends to the curved portion of the cover by means of rivets 11 and at their lower ends to the bottom 7 by means of rivets 12. The central portion of the bracket members is bowed outwardly as indicated at 13, and located between the curved sides is an electric motor 14 that carries fan blades 15. The inclination of the fan blades is such that when the motor operates a current of air is blown through the housing from the small end to the large end as indicated by arrow X in Fig. 1. Se-

cured to the inner surface of the two vertical sides 8 are straps 16. These straps are attached at their ends and are spaced from the inner surfaces at the points between which the attachment is made. The straps 16 form brackets for supporting a screen 17. This screen may be made from woven wire and has its ends bent downwardly as indicated at 18. Supported on the screen is a piece of ice 19. Located beneath the shelf or screen 17 is a pan 20 of sufiicient capacity to contain all the water from the ice so that the ice may melt completely without the water running over. It will be noticed that the shelf 17 is located some distance above the top of the pan so that air can pass underneath the ice as well as over it and about its ends. It is evident that the air that flows through the housing and by the ice, will have its temperaturereduced very materially and therefore when this apparatus is placed in a room, and the air continuously circulated, the temperature can be reduced many degrees in a short time. In hospitals, this device can be employed for cooling the temperature of any of the rooms where the patient requires a lower temperature, and it is also of great service in nurseries and in private houses and can also be employed in oflices or wherever a more comfortable temperature is desired in warm weather.

The bottom 7 can be provided with rubber supporting blocks 21, if desired.

In Fig. 4 a slightly modified form of construction has been shown. In this embodiment the cover member is constructed exactly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and has the vertical sides 8 and the curved top portion 9. Instead of having a bottom 7 formed from a single flat piece, the bottom may be formed from a flat piece somewhat shorter than the housing and has been indicated by reference character 7a. The pan 20 can be placed so that its top is substantially at the level of the bottom 7a, which is located at a distance from the lower edges of sides 8 substantially equal to the depth of the pan. In other respects, the apparatus is constructed in the manner described above. A handle 22 can be provided for carrying the device from one place to another and a cord 23 is connected with the motor and provided with a plug 24 by means of which attachment can be made to a lamp socket.

From the above description it will be seen that the device described is of a simple and substantial construction and that it can be readily transported from place to place and quickly attached to the lighting circuit of the building. When a piece of ice is put in place and the fan started, the air will be continuously circulated and cooled by its contact with the ice and therefore the temperature of the room or building can be quickly decreased.

In the above portion of this specification I have pointed out the different uses to which this invention can be put and from this it will be seen that it is a great convenience in warm weather and by means of it sick people, children and others who suffer from high temperatures can be -made comfortable.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

An air conditioner and cooler comprising, in combination, an elongated housing having a U-shaped cross section and a flat bottom, the straight part of the sides being substantially vertical, an electric fan located near one end, means carried by the housing for supporting the fan at a point substan: tially at the center of the cross sectional area, a strap secured to the inside of each vertical side member near the opposite end from that at which the fan is located, a foraminated shelf having means at its ends for attaching it to the straps, said shelf serving as a support for a piece of ice, and a removable pan located beneath the ice in position for receiving water from the melted ice.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SHICHIGORO KUNO. 

